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A Rare Case of Traumatic Pericardio-Diaphragmatic Injury Following a Road Traffic Accident
Rajeev Thilak Chellasamy1, Nembian Rajarajan1, Noel Marie Pio Samy2
1Cardiac/Thoracic/Vascular Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, IND.
Abstract:
Traumatic pericardi0-diaphragmatic rupture is very rare. It occurs due to high-velocity blunt trauma or penetrating injury to the abdomen or chest, which requires emergency intervention. The severity of injury varies, and it is very difficult to diagnose. Diaphragmatic ruptures are more common on the left side. Pericardial tears and diaphragmatic rupture are rare and often unrecognized in the acute phase. Computed Tomography is essential to diagnose and requires emergency surgery to avoid dreaded complications. A twenty-eight-year-old female reported to the emergency department with blunt injury to the abdomen following a road traffic accident. She was found to have diaphragmatic and a pericardial rupture with herniation of the bowel into the thoracic cavity. Emergency surgical repair was done. We report this case, as it is very rare to have a pericardial involvement along with diaphragmatic rupture, and to elaborate on the technical aspect of the surgical repair.
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